A laser sensor comprising a sensor head to receive laser light. The sensor head may have a globe-shaped optical member, the globe-shaped optical member may be optically coupled to an optical-to-electrical converter, the optical-to-electrical converter may be configured to convert laser light from the sensor head to an electronic output signal, and the sensor head may be configured to provide a 360 degree field of view in a horizontal plane and a positive (+) 90 degree field of view in a vertical plane above the horizontal plane.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A laser signal sensor comprising: a sensor head to receive laser light; the sensor head comprising a globe-shaped optical member, the globe-shaped optical member optically coupled to an optical-to-electrical converter; the optical-to-electrical converter operable to convert laser light from the sensor head to an electronic output signal; and the sensor head operable to provide a 360 degree field of view in a horizontal plane and a positive (+) 90 degree field of view in a vertical plane above the horizontal plane.
2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the sensor head is operable to provide a field of view in the vertical plane below the horizontal plane.
3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member is spherical.
4. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member is a full sphere.
5. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member is of a single piece monolithic construction.
6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member is at least one of translucent and transparent.
7. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member is operable to diffuse incident laser light which contacts the globe-shaped optical member.
8. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and the globe-shaped optical member is operable to diffuse the incident laser light at the outer surface.
9. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and the outer surface is translucent.
10. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and the outer surface is at least one of sand blasted, acid etched and silk screened.
11. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and the outer surface is coated with a light diffusion coating.
12. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and the outer surface is coated with glass beads.
13. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and the outer surface is coated with powdered glass.
14. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the sensor head is operable to enable incident laser light to enter the globe-shaped optical member and subsequently emanate from the globe-shaped optical member to be received by the optical-to-electrical converter.
15. The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the optical-to-electrical converter comprises at least one photo-detector.
16. The sensor of claim 15 wherein: the photo-detector comprises a photo-diode, photo-resistor or photo-transistor.
17. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: a light concentrating optic; and the light concentrating optic is operable to receive laser light from the globe-shaped optical member and concentrate the laser light prior to the laser light being received by the photo-detector.
18. The sensor of claim 17 wherein: the light concentrating optic comprises a compound parabolic concentrator.
19. The sensor of claim 17 wherein: the light concentrating optic comprises a mirrored concentrator.
20. The sensor of claim 17 wherein: the light concentrating optic comprises a concentrator lens.
21. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: an optical filter operable to block wavelengths of light other than laser light wavelengths; and the optical filter is operable to receive laser light which emanates from the globe-shaped optical member and arranged to filter the laser light prior to the laser light being received by the photo-detector.
22. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: an amplifier.
23. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: a power supply.
24. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: an electromagnetically shielded enclosure.
25. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: an electrical output connector.
26. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: a transmitter.
27. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: a coupling lens.
28. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: an optical fiber.
29. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising: mounting means.
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May 12, 2011
June 18, 2013
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